A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Negril vs. Roatan for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

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Should you visit Negril or Roatan?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Negril and Roatan. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Negril or Roatan?

Negril

Negril is a town in western Jamaica known for its miles of white sand beaches and cliffs. It is certainly one of the more laid back towns on the island yet still attracts a lot of tourists. The hotels are as close to the water as you can get, and the sand gets whiter and whiter the further away from populated areas you get. The water is unbelievably clear and warm in Negril!

Roatan

Your next great vacation lies just thirty miles off the north coast of Honduras. Right above the world's largest coral reef is the island of Roatan. As a popular tourist attraction and standard cruise destination, it's not uncommon to see tons of Americans during your trip. In fact, the cruising industry has had huge impact on the island's culture. While ships are in port, traffic will be heavier and prices may go up. Because of the growth of tourism, most locals speak both Spanish and English.

Which place is cheaper, Roatan or Negril?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Negril is $140, while the average daily cost in Roatan is $38. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Negril and Roatan in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Negril $106
    Roatan $11
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Negril $212
    Roatan $22
Compare Hotels in Negril and Roatan

Looking for a hotel in Negril or Roatan? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Negril


Hotels in Roatan


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Negril Hotel Prices and Roatan Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Negril $8.72
    Roatan $19
Typical Local Transportation prices in Negril

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Negril:


  • Taxi From Airport
    $14

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Negril

Also for Negril, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Round Trip Shared Airport Transfer in Montego Bay: $20
  • Grand Palladium Private Airport Transfer: $32
  • Grand Palladium Airport Transfer : $35
  • Round-Trip or Direct Private Airport Transfer to Lucea Resorts: $37
  • Grand Palladium Airport Transfer: $37
  • Transfer to Grand Palladium Resort from Montego Bay Airport: $38
  • Private Montego Bay Airport Transfer to Grand Palladium: $40
  • 9. Grand Palladium Resort Airport Private Fun-Transfer to/from Sangster Intl : $40
  • Private Airport Transfers from Montego Bay: $40
  • Grand Palladium - Private Transfer to/from Airport & Hotels: $40
  • Grand Palladium Private Transfers from MBJ Airport: $40
  • Private Airport Transfer to Negril from Montego Bay w Local Guide: $45

Typical Local Transportation prices in Roatan

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Roatan are as follows:


  • Water Taxi
    $4.27

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Roatan

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Roatan:

  • VIP Private Yacht Snorkeling, Shipwreck, Starfish, Transfer Included : $850
  • Roatan Island Buggy Adventure plus Transfer: $217
  • Roatan Buggy Adventure, Monkey & Sloth Park, Beach Pass plus Private Transfer: $207
  • Roatan Buggy Adventure, Snorkeling, Beach Pass plus Private Transfer: $207
  • North Side Blue Channel & Starfish Snorkeling, 20min JetSki, Transfer Included: $165
  • Parasailing, Beach Break, Chocolate Factory with Transfer: $155
  • West Bay Aquarium Snorkeling, Beach, Zipline, City Tour & Transfer: $140
  • Private Transfer from Honduras Roatan Airport (RTB) to Roatan Hotels: $140
  • Horseback Riding, Beach with Palapa and Transfer: $130
  • East Sightseeing, Mangrove Tunnel Snorkel, Hole in the Wall, with Transfer: $130
  • Roatan Zipline, Monkey, Macaws & Sloths Eco Park, Snorkeling, Transfer: $128
  • Private Black Iguana Golf with Transfer: $120

Is it cheaper to fly into Negril or Roatan?

Prices for flights to both Roatan and Negril change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Negril $23
    Roatan $9.44

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Negril

For Negril, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • The Jungle Nightclub Experience with Optional Dinner in Negril: $72
  • Zimbali Mountain Cooking Studio: $105
  • Private 3-5h Natural Herbs Tour, Shopping & Dinner at Ricks Cafe: $120
  • Local food tour and local fields : $164

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Roatan

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Roatan.

  • Roatan Cultural & Local Food Tour: $80
  • Tiki Boat Sunset Cruise in Roatan with Snorkeling and Dinner : $100
  • Cooking classes from a Local!: $122

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Negril $27
    Roatan $27
Typical Entertainment prices in Negril

For Negril, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • 2 Hr Horseback Ride
    $44

Tours and Activities in Negril

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Negril.

  • Cruise Ship Excursion in Montego Bay : $41
  • From Negril/Palladium: Negril Beach and Ricks Cafe Tour: $49
  • Negril Beach Experience & Rick's Cafe from Negril: $59
  • Buddle's Taxi and Tours : $60
  • Zimbali's Rasta Tour Lunch: $65
  • Blue Hole Mineral Springs, Rick's Café, and Shopping Combo Tour: $65
  • Negril Beach and Catamaran Cruise: $79
  • Negril & Ricks Cafe Sunset Catamaran Cruise: $81
  • Negril Country Side Tour & Rick's Cafe : $82
  • JamCulture Tour from Negril: $89
  • Private and Customize Negril Day Tour : $90
  • Pelican Bar and Black River Hi light Tour: $97

Tours and Activities in Roatan

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Roatan are as follows:

  • Mangrove cruise garífuna Culture sightseeing and shopping: $65
  • Private Tour: Chocolate Factory Rum cake Factory, Sightseeing and Beach Tour: $45
  • Roatan Island Tour & Daniel Johnson's Monkey and Sloth Hangout Tour: $70
  • Shore Excursion: VIP Island City Tour and Drift Snorkel : $60
  • Shore Excursion: Zip & Dip Adventure: $69
  • Sloths Sanctuary/Monkeys Play + Dune Buggy/ATV Adventure & Private Beach Resort: $139
  • 2 Hour Zip Lining Private Tour in Mahogany Bay: $65
  • 2 Tank Roatan Fun Dive, Boat Sightseeing Tour, including ground transportation: $145
  • 3-Hours Private Tour in Roatan with Pick Up: $66
  • 4 Hours Private Tour with Snorkeling and West Bay Beach Break : $62
  • 4-Hour East Side Roatan Private Guided Tour with Canoe Ride: $85
  • 4-Hour Private Tour to Roatan Island: $55

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Negril $10
    Roatan $7.08

Sample the Local Flavors in Roatan

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Roatan:

  • Half-Day Tour in Roatan With Brewery, Rum and Chocolate Factories visit: $46
  • Bar Crawl Tour in West End Village by Pedibike- Let the Good Times Roll: $65

How are these travel costs calculated?

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Negril and Roatan, we can see that Negril is more expensive. And not only is Roatan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Negril is in Caribbean Islands and Roatan is in Central America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Roatan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Roatan and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Negril would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Negril than you might in Roatan.

Which is Bigger, Negril or Roatan?

Roatan is bigger, and its population is about 2.5 times larger than the population of Negril. When comparing the population of Negril vs. Roatan, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit and the activities that interest you.

Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.
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Negril vs. Roatan Travel Comparison

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